Cartridge-shell



(No Model.)

J. K. ROSS. CARTRIDGE SHELL.

No. 602,875. Patented Apr. 26, 1898.

Att 03:

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES K. ROSS, OF SPRINGFIELD, OIIIO.

CARTRIDGE-SHELL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 602,875, dated April26, 1898. Application filed October 18, 1895. Serial No. 566,045. (Nomodel.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMEs K. Ross, a citizen of the United States, and aresident of the city of Springfield, in the county of Clark and State ofOhio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inCartridge-Shells, of which the following is a specification.

My invention and the various advantages resulting from its use will beapparent from the following description and claim.

The object of my invention is to provide constructions whereby theexplosive material used and confined in a breech-loading shell orcartridge may be more powerful than heretofore, bulk for bulk ofexplosive material, may be sure fire, may consume less powder and give agreater penetration with less recoil, and more completely ignite andconsume the powder and the gases evolved from the burning powder thusconfined.

The explosive material may be of any kind of powder, including, ofcourse, various descriptions of dynamite, and my invention is of greatbenefit in the explosive use thereof.

My invention is of great advantage in the explosion of powders known aswood powders.

In the accompanying drawings, making a part of this application, andinwhich similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts, Figure1 is a perspective view of a reinforced paper cartridge-shell for ashotgun. Fig. 2 is a transverse section of the shell shown in Fig. 1,the section being taken at the dotted line 3 3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is aperspective view of a metallic cartridge-shell for a shotgun. Fig. 4 isa transverse section of the shell shown in Fig. 3, this section beingtaken in the plane of the dotted line 5 5 of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is aperspective view of a rifle cartridge-shell. Fig. 6 is a transversesection of the shell shown in Fig. 5 and taken in the plane of thedotted line 7 7 of Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a view in perspective of a shellhaving my invention applied to the rear end thereof. Fig. 8 is alongitudinal section taken through the axis of the shell and through thevent or perforation.

Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive, illustrate the application of that feature ofmy invention which is applicable to the cartridge-shell and as appliedto the various descriptions of shells.

In the shell D, I form a groove or depression D and in this groove Iperforate the side of the shell, thereby making a passage D leading fromthe exterior of the shell to the interior thereof. There may be one ormore of said passages in the said groove D The groove or depressionpreferably extends around the shell; but it may be more limited in itsextent, or the groove may occur intermittently in separated divisionsaround the shell, in which event each depression has a passage D.

In order that the passage D be of any real advantage, the depressionshould be quite extended, so as to contain considerable air. Obviouslythe better direction in which to place the extension iscircumferentially on and in the side of the shell. Where the passage-way D occurs in a reinforced paper shell, it (the passage) will passthrough both the metal and the paper forming the side of the shell.

The depressions D and perforations D in the rifle-shell of Figs. 5 and 6will be substantially the same in principle as those described inconnection with the shotgun-shells, but will preferably be on a smallerscale. The construction of the depressions and perforations inrifle-shells and pistol-shells will not materially differ from oneanother.

In order to more fully utilize my invention, the firearm employed shouldbe provided with a communication extending from the exterior of thefirearm to the cartridge-via, so as to place the passage D through theshell in communication with the air exterior to the firearm. Thiscommunication is preferably one of a very minute diameter. The shell isplaced in the firearm in the ordinary manner and when occasion arises isdischarged. In this discharge the explosive material has opportunity toavail itself not only of the airin the passage D and in the depression Dbut also of the outer air through the communication in the firearm. Thisair is drawn into the shell and is utilized to increase the combustionand also to more thoroughly consume the powder and its constituent andresilient gases before the latter leave the gun. This immediate thoroughconsumption increases the force of the charge and the speed at which thecharge is delivered from the muzzle of the gun and the penetration ofthe projectile or projectiles. Thus I am enabled to diminish the chargeof powder to perform a given amount of Work by the gun. As beforementioned, the use of my invention also diminishes the recoil of thegun. Economy in the amount of explosive material used and increasedefficiency of the gun are effected.

My invention is also usefully applicable to ordnance as Well as toshotguns and to ordinary rifles, and I desire my claim to be understoodin connection therewith and as coverin g the application of my inventionthereto.

JAMES K. ROSS.

Attest:

O. J. MODIARMID', K. SMITH.

